NFLPA Chief Smith is Feeling the Heat

Smith on Sports
Analysis: NFLPA Chief Smith is feeling heat from the membership

There is no question that NFLPA Director DeMaurice Smith is feeling the heat from his membership about taking a strong stand in negotiations. Today, Smith said that the discipline powers that NFL Commissioner Goodell and his office have been exercising will be up for negotiations in the next collective bargaining agreement. The issue was raised by several recent suspensions issued by Goodell.

This is not a positive sign at all for the odds of avoiding a lockout/strike. It indicates that Smith is being forced by the players to a more radical stance against the owners. It also indicates that there are some serious hurdles to getting an agreement any time soon.

The power of prescribing discipline is critical to maintaining control of a league. The power of the MLBPA has turned Commissioner Bud Selig into a silent straight man when it comes to dispensing suspensions and other forms of discipline. Selig and the MLB owners can't blow their noses without asking the MLBPA for permission.

The two things that have allowed the NFL to become the primary professional sport in the US is the salary cap and strong discipline. Smith has already said that the players will not accept a salary cap if the league plays 2010 without one. Now the power to discipline players is on the table and will have to be fought for if the owners and commissioner are going to keep it.

There is an approach to negotiations that basically says “What's mine is mine. What's yours is negotiable.” Let's hope the union and owners can find enough common ground to get a deal that does not gut the game we love.

That's what I think. Tell me what you think.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He is a senior writer for http://www.nfldraftdog.com and edits http://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on http://www.eBooks-Library/Contemporary/Author.cfm?AuthorID=1003 and edits http://fryingpanpolitics.blog.com.